Sandeep Unnikrishnan

Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC(P) came from a Malayali family residing in Bangalore, where they had moved from Kozhikode, Kerala

.{{Cite web |title=Biopic of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan is all set to release this year, know all about the braveheart of India |url=https://www.jagrantv.com/en-show/major-sandeep-unnikrishnan-biography-family-age-wife-army-career-operation-black-tornado-awards-and-more-rc1031254}}{{cite news|publisher = WebIndia 123|title = Army Major from Kerala dies in Mumbai encounter|url = http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20081128/1115900.html|date = 28 November 2008|access-date = 28 November 2008|archive-date = 13 February 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213105651/http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20081128/1115900.html|url-status = dead}} He was the only son of retired ISRO officer K.Unnikrishnan{{cite web | url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/kerala-aid-for-maj-sandeeps-family/articleshow/22295745.cms | title=Kerala aid for Maj Sandeep's family }}{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2008/nov/29/he-asked-me-to-watch-the-operation-on-tv-3268.html | title='He asked me to watch the operation on TV' | date=14 May 2012 }} and Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan.{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081129/jsp/nation/story_10182139.jsp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203025832/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081129/jsp/nation/story_10182139.jsp | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 December 2008 | location=Calcutta, India | work=The Telegraph | title=Boy who had a crew cut in school | date=2008-11-29}}{{Cite web |title=Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan AC |url=https://www.honourpoint.in/profile/major-sandeep-unnikrishnan-ac/#:~:text=Major%20Sandeep%20Unnikrishnan%20was%20born,of%20retired%20ISRO%20officer%20K.}}

Maj. Unnikrishnan studied at The Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore,{{cite news|title=Bangalore boy's supreme sacrifice|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bangalore-boys-supreme-sacrifice/articleshow/22313876.cms|publisher=Bangalore Mirror, India Times|access-date=29 November 2008}} graduating in 1995 in the ISC Science stream.{{cite news|title=Maj Sandeep UnniKrishnan - A school remembers|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Maj-Sandeep-UnniKrishnan-A-school-remembers/articleshow/3770767.cms|publisher=Times of India|access-date=29 November 2008}} He wanted to join the armed forces from childhood.{{cite news |agency=Times of India |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Maj-Sandeep-UnniKrishnan--A-school-remembers/articleshow/3770767.cms |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022112003/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-29/bangalore/27943762_1_major-unnikrishnan-major-sandeep-c-browne |url-status = live |archive-date = 2012-10-22 |title=A school remembers |date=2008-11-29 |work=The Times of India |access-date=2008-11-29}} He was married to Neha.{{cite news |last1=Lulla |first1=Anil Budur |title=Thousands take first & last look at martyr |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/thousands-take-first-last-look-at-martyr/cid/525187 |access-date=7 July 2022 |work=Telegraph India |publisher=The Telegraph (India) |date=29 November 2008}}

Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC(P) joined the National Defence Academy (India) (NDA), Pune, Maharashtra in 1995. He was a part of the Oscar Squadron (No. 4 Battalion) and a graduate of the 94th Course NDA. He held a Bachelor of Arts degree.{{cite news |agency=The Times Of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NDA-buddies-remember-Sandeep-Unnikrishnan-/articleshow/3774026.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022125802/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-30/india/27910740_1_nsg-buddies-sandeep-unnikrishnan |url-status=live |archive-date=2012-10-22 |title=NDA Buddies Remember Unni= |date=2008-11-30 |access-date=2008-11-30 |first1=Prasenjit |work=The Times of India |last1=Mund}}

In the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, he was part of the 104th regular course. On 12 June 1999, he graduated from the IMA and got commissioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment (Infantry) of Indian Army.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=625 |date=13 May 2000|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2000/213126.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}} During Operation Vijay in July 1999, he was regarded positively at the forward posts in the face of heavy artillery firing and small arms fire by Pakistan troops. On the evening of 31 December 1999,{{cite news|title=Major Unnikrishnan's colleagues recall his qualities|url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/major-unnikrishnans-colleagues-recall-his-qualities_489857.html|publisher=Zee News|access-date=10 December 2008}} he led a team of six soldiers and established a post 200 metres from the opposing side and under direct observation and fire.{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200812101678.htm | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Major Unnikrishnan's colleagues recall his qualities | date=2008-12-10}}

He received a substantive promotion to Captain on 12 June 2003,{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1508 |date=8 November 2003|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2003/W_45_2011_107.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}} followed by promotion to the rank of Major on 13 June 2005.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=2075 |date=29 October 2005|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2005/W_44_2012_126.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}} During the 'Ghatak course' (at the Infantry wing Commando School, Belgaum), he topped the course twice earning an "Instructor" grading and a Commendation.

He was also trained at the High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg.{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Bihar-Regiment-fondly-remembers-Major-Unnikrishnan/articleshow/3774097.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022112026/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-29/patna/27911835_1_major-unnikrishnan-nsg-commando-maj-unnikrishnan | url-status=live | archive-date=2012-10-22 | first1=Kumod | last1=Verma | work=The Times of India | title=Bihar Regiment fondly remembers Major Unnikrishnan | date=2008-11-29}} After serving in different locations including Siachen, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat (during 2002 Gujarat Riots), Hyderabad and Rajasthan, he was selected to join the National Security Guards. On completion of training, he was assigned as the training officer of the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) of NSG, in January 2007 and also participated in various operations of the NSG.{{Cite web |url=http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=102951 |title=Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World! |access-date=29 November 2008 |archive-date=4 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204011331/http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=102951 |url-status=dead }}

On the night of 26 November 2008, several buildings in South Mumbai were attacked.{{Cite book |last1=Levy |first1=Adrian |title=The Siege : The Attack on the Taj |last2=Scott-Clark |first2=Cathy |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-14-342010-1 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=clxxxviii |language=English}} One of the buildings where hostages were held was the iconic 100-year-old Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC(P) was the team commander of 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) deployed at the Taj hotel to rescue the hostages. He entered the hotel with a group of 10 commandos and reached the sixth floor through the staircase. After evacuating hostages from the sixth and fifth floors, as the team descended the stairs, they suspected terrorists in a room on fourth floor, which was locked from the inside. As the commandos broke open the door, the round of fire by the terrorists hit Commando Sunil Kumar Yadav in both legs.{{Cite web |url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14809318 |title=A buddy called Major Unnikrishnan |website=Sify |access-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219221952/http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14809318 |archive-date=19 February 2009 |url-status=dead }} Unnikrishnan managed to save and evacuate Yadav, but terrorists disappeared after blasting a grenade inside the room.{{Cite web |url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14809318 |title=sify.com |website=Sify |access-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219221952/http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14809318 |archive-date=19 February 2009 |url-status=dead }} Unnikrishnan and his team continued evacuating hostages from the hotel, for around 15 hours. On 27 November, around midnight, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and his team decided to take the path of the central staircase of hotel to go up, as it was their only path towards the hostages and terrorists. As expected, when terrorists saw commandos coming up through the central staircase, they ambushed NSG team, from the first floor, in which 27-year-old Commando Sunil Kumar Jodha was grievously injured by seven bullets (three in the left hand, one on his right palm, two in the right shoulder and one in his chest). Unnikrishnan arranged for his evacuation and continued to engage terrorists in the firefight. He then decided to chase terrorists alone, as they were trying to escape to the next floor. In the encounter that followed, he managed to corner all four terrorists to the Ballroom in the northern end of Taj Mahal hotel, single-handedly but sacrificed his life in the course. His last words were, "Don't come up, I will handle them" according to the NSG officials. NSG commandos later killed all four terrorists trapped in the Ballroom and Wasabi restaurant of the Mumbai Taj hotel.{{cite news|title = Sandeep Unnikrishnan waged a valiant battle against terrorists|url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112959030900.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081202023219/http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112959030900.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2 December 2008|date = 29 November 2008|access-date =29 November 2008|work = The Hindu|location=Chennai, India}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20081202101919/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/nation-bids-adieu-to-ats-chief-nsg-commando/79337-3.html Nation bids adieu to ATS chief, NSG commando – India News – IBNLive]

File:Smt. Dhan Laxmi receiving Ashoka Chakra awarded to her son Shri Sandeep Unnikrishnan (Posthumous) from the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, during the 60th Republic Day Parade-2009, in New Delhi on January 26, 2009.jpg from President Pratibha Patil on 26 January 2009]]

The official citation for the Ashoka Chakra Award reads:{{Quotation|{{center|IC-58660 MAJOR SANDEEP UNNIKRISHNAN BIHAR REGIMENT/51 SPECIAL ACTION GROUP (POSTHUMOUS)}}

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan led the commando operation launched on 27th November 2008 to flush out terrorists from Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai in which he rescued 14 hostages.
During the operation, his team came under intense hostile fire, in which one of his team members got grievously injured. Major Sandeep pinned down the terrorists with accurate fire and rescued the injured commando to safety. In the process, he was shot in his right arm. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight the terrorists till his last breath.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan displayed most conspicuous bravery besides camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.{{citation|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=46980|access-date=14 September 2014|date=25 January 2009|title=Ashoka Chakra awardees and their saga of gallantry |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}}}

File:YelahankaNewTown.jpg

At Unnikrishnan's funeral, mourners chanted "Sandeep Unnikrishnan Amar Rahe" ("May Sandeep Unnikrishnan's name remain eternal").{{cite news |agency=The Hindu |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200811291431.htm |title=Hundreds pay tributes to slain NSG major in Bangalore — The Hindu |date=2008-11-29 |access-date=2008-12-03 |location=Chennai, India |archive-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917193752/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200811291431.htm |url-status=dead }} Thousands of people lined up outside his Bangalore house to pay their respects. His funeral was held with full military honours.{{cite news|last1=Ravindran|first1=Nirmala|title=Nation bid tearful adieu to Karkare, Unnikrishnan|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Nation+bid+tearful+adieu+to+Karkare,+Unnikrishnan/1/21274.html|access-date=24 January 2015|publisher=India Today|date=29 Nov 2008}}

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The Mother Dairy Double Road in Bengaluru, a {{Convert|4.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} stretch from Federal Mogul on Doddaballapur Road to MS Palya junction, within Yelahanka New Town, was renamed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road in his honour.{{Cite web |agency=PTI|date=2 Mar 2009 |title=Karnataka to name road after Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/karnataka-to-name-road-after-major-sandeep-unnikrishnan/articleshow/4213803.cms |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} A bust of Unnikrishnan is installed on Ramamurthy Nagar Outer Ring Road junction in Bangalore and is named in his honour.{{cite web|title=Teachers' Colony pays tribute, names park after Sandeep Unnikrishnan - Bangalore Mirror -|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/Teachers-Colony-pays-tribute-names-park-after-Sandeep-Unnikrishnan/articleshow/50523731.cms|website=Bangalore Mirror|access-date=28 September 2017}}

There is a bust of Unnikrishnan at the entrance of Indian Education Society on Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai. An army housing complex at Whitefield, Bangalore is named 'Sandeep Vihar' and a bust of Unnikrishnan is installed in the center of Housing complex.{{Cite web |date=29 November 2021 |title=Tributes to a martyr: Major Unnikrishnan's bust unveiled |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/tributes-to-a-martyr-major-unnikrishnans-bust-unveiled/articleshow/87968575.cms |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}

A film, titled Major, stars Adivi Sesh in the title role of Unnikrishnan. The film is produced by actor Mahesh Babu, Sony Pictures International Productions, and A+S Movies.{{Cite web |title=Film on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's life set to release in July |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/film-on-major-sandeep-unnikrishnans-life-set-to-release-in-july20210129194905/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=ANI News |language=en}}

The principal photography of the film began in February 2020,{{cite web | title=Shoot commences for Adivi Sesh's 'Major' | website=The News Minute | date=17 February 2020 | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/shoot-commences-adivi-sesh-s-major-118379|access-date=2 September 2020}} and was released worldwide on 3 June 2022.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=Adivi Sesh's Major to release in theatres on June 3. New poster out |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/adivi-sesh-s-major-to-release-in-theatres-on-june-3-new-poster-out-1942439-2022-04-27 |website=The Indian Express}}

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Category:Indian military personnel killed in action

Category:Military personnel from Bengaluru

Category:1977 births

Category:2008 deaths

Category:People associated with the 2008 Mumbai attacks

Category:Victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks

Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)

Category:People from Kozhikode

Category:Malayali people

Category:Military personnel from Kerala

Category:Ashoka Chakra